The Legend of the Condor Heroes – Chapter 24

Cheng Yaojia smiled and said in her heart, “You are done talking, now it’s my turn to take care of your business.” Then she left the inn to look for Yin Zhiping. But after going around the village she had not seen his neither his shadow nor his tracks.

She was about to turn around and came back when suddenly she heard Yin Zhiping call her in a subdued voice, “Cheng Shimei!” He beckoned to her from the corner of a wall.

“Ah! Here you are,” Cheng Yaojia happily said.

Yin Zhiping made a hand signal, telling her to be quiet; he pointed to the west and walked toward her. In a low voice he told her, “There are some suspicious looking people snooping around over there, they all carry weapons with them.”

Cheng Yaojia’s mind was occupied with what Lu Guanying had just said, she said, “I think they are just passers-by.”

Yin Zhiping’s face actually looked serious, with a low voice he said, “Those people’s movements were agile, their martial art skills must be very high. We must be very careful.” Actually he saw Peng Lianhu and the others. They waited for Hou Tonghai for a long time and he did not come back. They thought he must be in some danger; but all of them remembered the expert who pretended to be the ghost the previous night in the imperial palace, who would dare to go and rescue him? All of a sudden they spotted Yin Zhiping, so they withdrew and hid themselves. Yin Zhiping waited for a while, but did not see any activity ahead, so he went over to take a look, but these people had already gone without a trace. Thereupon Cheng Yaojia told him everything she heard from Lu Guanying.

Yin Zhiping smiled and said, “So that’s what he was thinking about. How could anybody guess it? Cheng Shimei, you go and ask Sun Shishu’s [martial uncle] help, I’ll go and tell Shifu. As long as the Quanzhen Seven Masters are willing to act, what matter under the sky they cannot solve?”

“But we have to be careful not to mess this thing up,” Cheng Yaojia said. Then she relayed what Lu Guanying said just before she left the inn.

“Humph,” Yin Zhiping sneered, “Who is Huang Yaoshi anyway? Is he stronger than the Quanzhen Seven Masters?”

Cheng Yaojia was about to remind him not to be too arrogant, but seeing his stern expression she swallowed back the word that was on her lips. Two people went back to the inn together.

Lu Guanying said, “Little Brother will have to take my leave. Whenever you pass through the Lake Tai area, please pay me a visit at the Cloud Village for a few days.” Cheng Yaojia was crushed to see him leave so soon, but how could she dare to reveal her deepest feelings?

Yin Zhiping turned around to face the Kitchen God idol and said, “Kitchen God, Master, Quanzhen Sect is most willing to help other people in distress. Whenever there is any injustice in the Jianghu and the Quanzhen disciples find out about it, there is no way we will not interfere.”

Lu Guanying knew these words were directed to him, thereupon he also said, “Kitchen God, Master, I pray that you will give your blessing so that this matter will be resolved in peace. Disciple is forever grateful towards all these gentlemen who spend their energy to help.”

Yin Zhiping said, “Kitchen God, Master, please do not worry; the Quanzhen Seven Masters’ power is shaking the world. As long as they are willing to act, there is nothing in this world they cannot deal with.”

Lu Guanying was startled, he thought, “How can my Grandmaster be convinced if the Quanzhen Seven Masters rely on power?” He busily said, “Kitchen God, Master, you know that my Grandmaster comes and goes as he wishes, he never pays attention to other people. Others speak as friends to him, he would certainly listen, but he loathes it if others try to speak reason with him!”

“Ha, ha …” Yin Zhiping said, “Kitchen God, Master, how can the Quanzhen Seven Masters be afraid of others? Originally this matter had nothing to do with us, my Shifu only sent me to deliver the warning. But if anybody provokes us the Quanzhen disciples, I don’t care whether he is Yellow Yaoshi [surname ‘huang’ literal translation is ‘Yellow’] or Hei Yaoshi [Black Yaoshi], the Quanzhen Sect will definitely teach him a lesson.”

Lu Guanying felt anger rising on his chest, he said, “Kitchen God, Master, what disciple had just said, please just consider it a talk in my sleep. If anybody belittles us, we don’t want to accept anybody’s favor anymore.” These two were talking to each other, but they were facing the Kitchen God idol. One spoke and the other responded, gradually this exchange of words became hotter and hotter.

Cheng Yaojia wanted to interfere, but those two men were young and hot-tempered, neither was willing to yield even for half a word. Finally Yin Zhiping said, “Kitchen God, Master, the Quanzhen Sect’s martial art is the purest of orthodox skill, while others’ are heretical skill, even if they are good, how can they be measured up against the Quanzhen Sect?”

Lu Guanying responded, “Kitchen God, Master, I have heard for a long time the reputation of Quanzhen Sect’s martial art; certainly there are many martial art experts within the Quanzhen Sect. But this doesn’t mean that there are no arrogant blabbermouths among the disciples.”

Yin Zhiping was angry, his palm struck and the corner of the kitchen stove collapsed. He stared hard and shouted loudly, “Good kid, you curse people!”

‘Bang!’ Lu Guanying also struck the other corner and it fell to the ground. He shouted, “How do I dare to curse you? I am cursing those condescending conceited disciples.”

Yin Zhiping had seen Lu Guanying’s martial art skill just now; he knew it was still inferior to his, so his confidence was boosted and with a cold laugh he said, “Fine! Let us try, we’ll see who is conceited in the end.”

Lu Guanying knew perfectly well that he was not Yin Zhiping’s match, but he hated it when others insulted his school. He was like one riding on a tiger’s back, he could not continue riding, yet it is difficult to back down. He drew his saber, made a gesture of respect with his left hand and said, “Little Brother is ready to receive Quanzhen Sect’s excellent stances.”

Cheng Yaojia was very anxious, tears streaming down from her eyes. She wanted to throw herself in between these two men, but each time did not have the courage to do so. She saw Yin Zhiping sweep his whisk away and step forward to launch his attack and straightaway two people fight ferociously.

Lu Guanying did not expect victory; he merely hoped he would avoid an embarrassing defeat. Immediately he launched the ‘luo han dao fa’ [Buddhist arhat’s saber technique] he learned from Reverend Kumu [Dead Wood], creating a tight defense around him.

Yin Zhiping assumed offensive position immediately, and to his surprise he found the opponent’s saber power to be quite strong. He realized he had recklessly underestimated his opponent when his left arm was almost chopped down. His heart shivered and he hastily concentrated his attention to face the attack and respond accordingly; launching his school’s special teaching of calming his mind and spirit, slow step but quick hand movements. Only by doing this did he gradually gain the upper hand.

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